Unbiased beauty product reviews & tips

soothing

This is a ‘all natural’ brand based on ancient Ayurvedic principles (one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems) which focuses on maintaining balance through the health and wellness of your mind, body and soul.

SAMAYA is the perfect antidote to a stressful, busy and hectic lifestyle as it allows you to incorporate balance and wellness into your daily skincare routine. By answering a few short questions about your lifestyle and skin concerns SAMAYA will match you to your ideal dosha and the skincare range that will work best for your skin. For each dosha type the range includes three luxurious products, a rich Hydrating Cleanser, a powerful Anti-Ageing Cream and an indulgent Anti-Ageing Treatment Oil, all of which contribute to healthier, younger looking skin.

Vata – Dry skin

Pitta – Sensitive skin

Kapha – Oily skin

My dosha was identified as Pitta which tend to be:-

Well-proportioned and compact build, with a focused mind and a love of order. Confident and passionate, enjoying challenges. Prone to anger and impatience when out of balance. Benefits from gentle skincare as skin can be sensitive and irritable, susceptible to wrinkles, sunburn and inflammation.

Which I have to say is a damn good match for me & my skin concerns.

I’ve been testing out the Anti Ageing Cream from the Pitta range* (£89) and it has been such a lovely addition to my skincare regime. This moisturiser is absolutely jam-packed with fantastic skin loving ingredients which leave my skin feeling soft, soothed and radiant. It does have a very strong botanical scent which I found to be quite relaxing but just to be aware it is pretty intense.

This cream has such a lightweight consistency, it felt instantly hydrating and throughout the day my skin continued to feel really soft. To me this product does feel more like a serum than a moisturiser because it is so fluid and almost disappears on the skin. So you don’t get that greasy, slippery feeling that a heavy moisturiser can often leave behind.

The list of Ayurvedic botanicals and clinically proven anti-ageing ingredients included in this product is so extensive. It is easy to see why my skin felt and looked amazing whilst I was using it,

Sodium Hyaluronate – Salt form of hyaluronic acid, this naturally derived anti-ageing ingredient has intense hydrating qualities (can hold more water than any other natural substance – up to 1,000 times its weight in water) which help boost skin’s elasticity, contributing to smoother skin with decreased wrinkles and a fuller appearance.

Saffron Extract – Valued for its skin toning abilities; can impart a natural radiance as it helps to reduce pigmentation; has mood-enhancing properties; is considered to be an aphrodisiac and is often used as a tonic to improve general health.

Shatavari Extract – It has long been used as a tonic for female health concerns and as a means of reducing stress and tension. Shatavari also has nutritive and rejuvenative properties for skin, contributing towards a renewed, youthful appearance.

I really like that the Pitta skincare focuses on healing, repairing and soothing which is so up my street and exactly what my skin needs. Over the past 7 weeks not only have I seen my uneven skin tone improve but my skin looks and feels radiant, smooth and dare I say it well-balanced. So this Anti Ageing Cream gets a thumbs up from me – I just wish the price tag wasn’t so steep.

SAMAYA are a premium skincare brand and they use key, concentrated ingredients to ensure it delivers results. I’m not 100% convinced by the dosha side of things although I think that is more because I don’t fully understand it all, but In terms of quality and results, the skincare is fantastic and well worth looking into.

Each year Jurlique release a beautiful limited edition intense version of their international best selling Rosewater Balancing Mist and I’m excited to say its back for 2016. It comes in a gorgeous limited edition 200ml pink glass bottle, even the outer cardboard packaging is just too pretty to throw away.

The product has such a lovely fresh scent of roses and I find its ideal for keeping on your desk and spritzing throughout the day, keeping your skin feeling fresh and hydrated – also the bottle just looks so pretty sat out on display.

This mist is enriched with a unique blend of five precious rose extracts grown on Jurlique’s farm in Australia – including,

This is a product that will hydrate your skin & keep it looking radiant, whilst the antioxidants protect it from natural aggressors and its a lovely way to refresh your skin & your makeup throughout the day.

This 200ml deluxe bottle is a whopper and you will last you for months and months – so you won’t be afraid to indulge and lightly mist your skin as often as you please.

In the UK Jurlique will be donating a 5% of sales of this years Rosewater Balancing Mist to support the London Wildlife Trust which is a UK based charity dedicated to protecting the capitals wildlife and wild spaces. So that is really in keeping with Jurlique’s ethos of giving back to the earth and helping nature and people thrive.

Luxury skincare brand Eloquence is a new brand to emerge onto the UK skincare scene and its already getting some fantastic reviews. Its a natural premium brand that’s dedicated to giving their customers the very best products with a real emphasis on value for money. So you’re getting products that are affordable and that deliver great results.

Eloquence products include the very best ingredients in their products, with a focus on anti-ageing, skin hydration and skin health. A common ingredient that features heavily through their range is Sachi Inchi Oil, its a superfood which comes from Peru and is found in seed form. Its known for its high levels of vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids and its oil has a unique blend of

Omega 3 which helps to restore the skins elasticity

Omega 6 helps to combat skin dehydration

Omega 9 helps against premature ageing by intensely nourishing and protecting the skin from environmental stress.

Eloquence skincare comprises of a four step daily routine that is so easy to follow, each product comes in elegant green packaging with its step 1 – 4 clearly marked so this will help you keep your skincare steps in order. There is also a nourishing treatment oil which a multi use product.

Step 1 Purifying Facial Cleanser*

This is a refreshing cleanser thats infused with Sacha Inchi Oil, Cucumber and Coconut Extracts. So its gentle and extremely hydrating. I massage a small 5p sized amount on to dry skin then I dampen my fingers and massage for a further minute just to make sure I’m breaking down all my makeup & grime from the day, then I use a hot cloth. It removes my makeup with ease and it leaves my skin feeling lovely and smooth, soft and most importantly (for me) not tight or stripped of moisture.

Step 2 Firm and Tone Serum*

The Firm & Tone Serum with Glycerin and Coconut oil will illuminate the skin and give it a flawless appearance. Added Hyaluronic Acid will give a boost of Collagen, which will keep your skin plump, smooth and supple. This is an extremely lightweight serum & if you’re someone that worries about having too many steps in your routine or that the products feel heavy on your skin then this isn’t like that at all. I felt like it almost evaporated once it touched my skin (in a good way). It 100% left it feeling velvety soft and almost like it had a soft focus element to it. I adore this serum & I feel like its helped my skin beat the January blues.

Step 3 Firming and Moisturising Eye Gel*

The Firming & Moisturising Eye Gel targets dark circles and puffiness, and with added Hyaluronic acid will keep your eye area plump and will smooth out fine lines. It feels cooling when you first apply it and its not greasy at all but helps wake up my tired eyes each morning. I find my concealer sits well on top and a little goes a long way, the gel is so easy to pat in around the orbital bone. I am an eye cream addict and never go a day without using one, I have tried very few eye gels and I am smitten with this one. Its just so lightweight and nourishing.

Step 4 Protect and Repair 24hr Cream*

This cream can be used either am or pm (or both if you wish). It contains added Hyaluronic Acid making it an intensive moisturiser and UVA & UVB protection so your skin is protected from the harmful effects of the sun. Its a lovely moisturiser and I have found it helps keep my skin blemish free and also feeling supple. I like how it wears under foundation, as my base looks smooth all day. Its been a welcomed addition to my skincare regime and think this product from the range will appeal to people of all skin types and ages.

Nourishing Treatment Oil

This is one of those multi purpose products and I love those, this has been getting a lot of love these past few weeks. I have enjoyed massaging it into my dry cuticles just before I go to bed, I like to use the excess as a hand treatment and I wakeup to the softest healthy looking hands. Its instantly nourishing and it is an oil that absorbs quickly too. This product is blended with Coconut and Sweet Almond Oil which will help to Renew, Repair and Revitalise skin, hair and nails.

All Eloquence skincare products contain no Artificial Perfume or Colour, no Parabens, no Harsh Chemicals and are Cruelty Free, which makes them suitable for all skin types, even dry and sensitive skin areas.

This is a fantastic skincare brand and when I first started testing out these products at the start of the new year I didn’t for one minute think I would enjoy using them all. There is normally one product I like least or that didn’t really fit my needs but this skincare regime is simple, effective and jam packed full of ingredients that nourish, replenish and rejuvenate your skin. This is a brand to keep your eye on & if like me you enjoy skincare then you need to add these products to your shopping list asap.

Over the years (many years) I have used almost all of the skincare ranges from The Body Shop but the Vitamin C Range for some reason I hadn’t ever tried and I am kicking myself for not giving it a go sooner. The Vitamin C range is formulated to give your skin a boost of hydration giving it a gorgeous energising glow. I have been putting it to the test over the past 2 months and I’m absolutely smitten with the range. Earlier this year The Body Shop added two new products to this range, the first being

This is such a lightweight water based moisturiser – it feels like a gel and I was very surprised at how quickly it absorbed into my skin, it was almost instantly. I like to use this in the morning because it’s a great way to give your tired skin a boost of hydration making it look and feel plumped and the Vitamin C helps your skin look glowing, making you look healthy and more awake. The zesty citrus scent helps energise you too, it smells so fresh and uplifting!

The packaging feels and looks luxurious, it’s in a weighty orange glass jar with a black lid, its sturdy and really good quality too.

There is no SPF in this which I know a few people are disappointed with but I like to apply a separate SPF every day so it’s not a problem for me but just something to note if you’re looking to use this as your daytime moisturiser. After using it almost daily for 2 months my skin feels smooth and is looking radiant. Its a welcomed addition to my skincare routine.

Being someone that has quite naturally dull skin I welcome any product that promises to give me a natural glow – most of the time the products end up being a little disappointing but The Body Shop seem to have hit the nail on the head with both these new releases. The second new addition to the Vitamin C Range is,

I like to use this on top of my moisturiser, it has quite a creamy texture but it’s not heavy or greasy and to my surprise, it has a really flattering peachy tint to it. I apply this mostly to the centre of my face, focusing on my forehead, nose & chin as this is great at blurring pores and fine lines making my skin look smooth as well as giving it a slight peachy glow. You see instant results with this product, it really helps combat the signs of fatigue and is just the perfect base for your makeup.

It has a velvet finish and your makeup seems to glide on. It also helps keep my foundation in place and looking its best all day/night. There is no shimmer in this which I really like, it gives your skin more of a natural glow, the colour adjusts to your skin tone (like magic) evening out your skin tone and I love the blurring effect it gives the skin. I really like the tube packaging & the fact its bright orange and will be so handy to travel with or throw in your handbag for giving your skin a pick me up throughout the day. I also think its a great moisturiser too if you have oily skin, it adds another good layer of hydration to your skin which for me is always a good thing.

So this is a bit of a multi-tasker – a primer, lightweight moisturiser and tinted cream all in one. I really recommend trying this! Oh, & it also has the same zesty orange scent – smells good enough to eat.

This isn’t new but its new to me, I love using face mists and always have one on my desk but if I remember I do like to keep a couple in the fridge that makes them so refreshing and cooling especially in this crazy heat.

This face mist is an instant pick me up, it smells like oranges and it instantly cools the skin. Like the other products in this range it contains Camu Camu which is rich in vitamin C and aloe vera, so its hydrating, calming and helps boost the skin’s radiance. Its so nice on a warm day & you can spray on top of your makeup throughout the day to keep skin feeling fresh and hydrated.

I feel like The Body Shop has really stepped up their game over the past 18 months & are releasing some really great products. Let me know what products you have recently discovered from The Body Shop.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.